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VIR first operated from August 3rd, 1957 through 1974, with
a 3.23 mile course.
The track reopened on June 6th, 2000 with a 3.27 mile full course
and 2.25 and 1.65 mile north and south courses.
The reconstruction was supervised by former Lime Rock VP of
Operations Mike Rand, who has since moved on.

Virginia International Raceway (VIR) is one of the most beautiful
facilities in the country and boasts a phenomenal racetrack. Itís
located on the southern edge of Virginia and is close to Danville.

It has lots of paddock space, viewing hills and other great spots to
watch the race(s).

VIR is actually several courses wrapped up into 1. The normal full
course is 3.27 miles long, but can be combined with several other
parts to make it over 4. The full course can be divided into at least
3 courses (normally termed the north, south and patriot course) which
can be run separately. For the purpose of this 'Hot Lap,' Iíll
be referring to the normal full course.

It has lots of run-off room, adequate curbing, tires and other padding
in front of the few guardrails, and some very challenging curves for
even the most experienced driver.

All shift points and estimated speeds are from my T1 prepared Corvette
Z06. Overall, it helps to have a neutral car here. There are parts of
the track where a slight push helps, but generally a neutral car that
can be turned easily with the throttle is preferred.

Leaving the pits, youíll be on the right side of the track down the
front straight. Ensure you check your mirrors carefully before moving
over to the left to get set up for turn 1. There will be cars running
well over 130 mph down the straight and across the start/finish line
which is actually in the middle of a mild curve with a nearly blind
apex! The exit of the pits is well after this point, but be careful.

Turn #1 ('Fish Hook' or 'Horse Shoe') is a very sharp, 180
degree right-hand turn. Youíll most likely be in 3d gear. Trail
brake the entrance, but the apex should be late. Itís almost always
slippery right at the apex, but it grips well after that point. Donít
bother tracking out all the way over to the left curbing because you
need to get back to the right to set up for #2. There is nothing to
be gained by tracking way out. Marbles build up out there quickly and
it is slick!

Turn #2 is just a fast left kink, but I still hit the apex and shoot
straight for the entrance for #3. You could do a 'rim-shotí around
the outside of #2, but again, itís slick and nothing is gained by
doing it.

Straighten the wheel after #2 to allow a nice, but gentle
straight-line braking zone before 'NASCAR Bend' #3. Turn #3 is
much faster than it looks, but you must nail the apex to get it right.
I still remain in 3d gear to this point.

Turn #4 ('Left Hook') is a slow 90 degree left-hander, but use a
very late apex so not to go wide on the exit because a tight turn #5
is immediately next.

Turn #5 is essentially the first part of a long semi-straight so
sacrifice speed thru #4 to get track position for #5. Itís just a
standard increasing radius turn, but track out nice and wide for #5a
and #6.

As you turn in for #5a, you must be under power. A slight drop
throttle will induce a small oversteer and point you right at the apex
and thru the corner. This takes a few times to get right, but it is
HUGE FUN when you do! As you come out of #6, just ride your tires
over the low curbs ('Snake') and power out down the straight and
shift to 4th.

The next set of curves are the uphill esses and are extremely fast and
are one of two places that separate the best drivers from the rest of
the pack. Itís very important to keep your head and eyes up thru this
series. The car will follow your eyes. Youíll be flying so donít get
fixated on specific points. Just hit your apexes under power and be
SMOOTH!!

I enter the esses (turn #7) in 4th gear under power and feather the
throttle until Iím over the 2d 'hump' (turn #8) and then on the
power thru the last right hand turn #9. Come thru there at full
throttle, but limit your track out because the next turn is a very
fast lefty affectionately called 'Stevie Wonder' ('South
Bend') or turn 10.

To set up for #10, ensure you are as far right as possible under heavy
braking and trail brake lightly on turn in to get the front tires to
bite. Immediately get to an even throttle and nail that apex. If you
miss this one by more than a foot, youíll end up in the grass on the
right at the exit, as the track just falls away beneath you --
AWESOME turn!

As you come down the hill over 'Stevie' and then back up, youíll
be basically pointing right at the turn-in point for #11 - heel-toe
down shift to 3d gear. Since the road is uphill, you can use the
brakes later and harder than you think.

For #11, you can either 'rim-shotí this next corner or treat it as
a normal turn with a normal apex (which is what I do). If you
rim-shot this corner to supposedly get a better set up for 12, you may
find someone stick his nose in under you! Contrarily, if somebody
blocks you into the corner, it is possible to go to the outside and
try to get a better entrance on the next turn. I used this technique
in 2003 at the national race there and forced Joe Aqualante to stay in
tight and it hurt his exit speed which allowed me to pass him down the
straight!

Once thru the turn, straighten the wheel slightly to smoothly trail
brake at 'Oak Tree' which is turn #12. This is a decreasing
radius right hand turn and imperative you nail the apex here as well
due to the narrow exit. Wind the engine up and shift to 4th and enjoy
the ride over the rolling Virginia countryside!! Check your gauges,
mirrors, relax and breathe! I donít shift to 5th.

Set up on the right side of the track and brake as late as you dare
for the next corner. With excellent brakes and a good driver, you can
actually wait until the 2 marker or later! Itís downhill though so
work your braking points later -- slowly! You can either choose to
heel-toe to 3d gear at the end of the braking zone, or stay in 4th,
turn left thru #14 and then shift to 3d here. Iíve used both
techniques and both work well. If you have a long pedal and donít
think you can get max braking at the end of the straight using
heel-toe, simply wait until after the next corner. Youíll have time
and track space to do it.

The next turn starts the 'Roller Coaster' (#14a) and another
great series of turns. Power down the hill, thru #15, but stay in 3d
gear. Stay as far to the right as much as possible and straight line
brake before the left hand turn #16.

Once you start down #16 though, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BRAKE!! The
compression of the banking and the next turn (#17) eliminate the need.
This will also take a few times to get used to. As soon as the car
settles, get on the power and control the oversteer thru the next long
right hand turn #17a otherwise known as 'Hog Pen.' The car will
drift nicely -- enjoy. Shift to 4th when the revs wind up (normally
right at the exit) and power down the long straight.

Keep your head and eyes up and treat the start/finish as an apex. Get
left after that and stand the car on its nose for the entry back into
turn #1. Itís a downhill braking zone and a bit bumpy so it takes
longer than you think to stop.

A competitive time in a well-prepared T1 car is anything around 2:10
and below depending on the outside temp which tends to make a huge
difference there. This is easily one of the finest road courses in
the country so enjoy every mile of it!